The Regnum Christi Movement offers its members some guidelines of a gospel-based spirituality as an ideal of Christian life. The spiritual path that Regnum Christi members walk mainly consists in knowing, loving, imitating, and proclaiming Christ. This is the path and these are the goals.

Below, we offer some resources that can help nurture the spiritual life of Movement members and of any Christian.

Jesus said
to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous
deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you
will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When
you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before
you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in
the streets to win the praise of others. Amen,
I say to you they have received their reward. But
when you give alms, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing, so
that your almsgiving may be in secret. And your Father
who sees in secret will repay you. When you
pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and on street
corners so that others may see them. Amen, I
say to you, they have received their reward. But when
you pray, go into your inner room, close the
door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your
Father who sees in secret will repay you. When
you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites,
they neglect their appearance so that they may appear to
be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have
received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your
head and wash your face, so that you may not
appear to be fasting, except to your Father who
is hidden. And your Father who sees what is
hidden will repay you.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord, you
know how much I need you and depend on you.
You know my weakness and my faults. I put
all my confidence in your love and mercy in my
daily actions. I hope to learn to trust more
in your power, your promise, and your grace. Lord, I
wish to start this season of Lent with a
sincere desire to grow in love, preparing myself worthily
to celebrate the mysteries of your passion, death and
resurrection.

Petition: Lord, help me learn to
change what needs to change in my life.

1. Lenten Practices:
As we begin the Lenten season, we are reminded
of the need to make reparation for our sins
and be reconciled with God. Any attempt to build a
spiritual life that neglects the pillars of prayer, fasting
and almsgiving is building on sand. Prayer purifies our
intentions and relates all we do to God. Fasting detaches
us from our comfort and from ourselves. Almsgiving reflects
our brotherhood with the poor of Jesus’ family and
reminds us that our true wealth is not in
things, but in the love of God. We all need
to do a reality check on our spiritual lives
to make sure we are committed to prayer, fasting and
almsgiving.

2. Not for Show: Jesus is severe
in criticizing the hypocrites who parade their works before others
to get attention. Such parades are of no use
in pleasing God or making up for our sins;
they only add to our sinfulness. He encourages us to
pray in private, to fast and to give alms
in secret, without calling the attention of others to
what we are doing. In this way we can be
sure we are doing all for love of God
and not for love of self. Those who make an
outward show of piety or generosity “have already received
their reward” in this world, and they store up no
treasure in heaven. Let us work silently and discreetly,
with no other intention but pleasing God alone.

3.
God Loves a Joyful Giver: Nothing brings us closer to
Christ than walking alongside him and doing the things
he did for love of God the Father. During Lent,
God invites us to purify our hearts and minds
and to turn our intentions back to him. Christ’s public
ministry was lived each day in loving obedience to
the Father’s will. Our Lenten program should reflect that
same simple, yet demanding, obedience and love. What can
I do for God today? What sacrifice can I offer
that will be pleasing to him? Once I decide
on it, I will carry it out with no one
else knowing.

Conversation with Christ: Jesus,
give me the grace to begin this Lent with
great enthusiasm and love. Help me live it with
joy, knowing that I am living it in your presence
to please you and you alone.

Resolution:
I will make a Lenten program of prayer,
fasting, and almsgiving.

The daily meditation is a service of Regnum Christi that offers people a Gospel reflection through e-mail. You can view the weekly meditation on this link or listen the podcast version here.